Did a water run at 6am today, so that I didn't have to drag the dinghy up and chain it. Another 40 litres means she's full (100L total in the tank) and I can relax for a while.

Yesterday's mail brought all sorts of good stuff, including much needed vaping (electronic cigarette) supplies and Swedish Snus to keep me off the smokes. There were also some tools I ordered, and the 26mm hole saw has already been put to good use. Below is a photo of the new cigarette socket fitted to the V-berth next to the old 32V caravan style point. I can now charge stuff there or use 240V via the little 150W inverter on the shelf. No more extension leads from the 1000W inverter!

It was fitted where previously a wall switch that controlled a dome light lived ... you can see the shadow on the wall above where that has been removed. I ordered a replacement with an inbuilt switch. I've done the same in the galley where yet another dead dome light is being replaced, and a third socket will go in the head for shavers and so on.

The lack of intellect of the previous owner still surprises me. He either took the mast down or climbed to paint it and fit new LED mast and spreader lights. What he omitted was the ropes to haul sails up. D'oh! Now, guess which side that RED spreader light is fitted on, and win yourself a cupie doll. That's right, it's on the starboard.

Looks like I'll have to do some frigging in the rigging. Anyone know how to climb a mast without footholds?

Have you got no halyards at all from the top of the mast. You should have at least three, one for the headsail, one for the main and a topping lift. If you have just one, you need a working winch, a mate, a bosun's chair and a six pack. Make sure the halyards are in good nick before trusting them with your weight.

If you dont have any halyards, it gets tougher. Best bet is to drop the mast, check all the sheaves, change the lights, check the standing rigging and install all new halyards. Make sure all the masty bits are okay, then stand the mast back up and make it secure.

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"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!

Auzzee, I have one rope halyard that connects to a coil of wire on the cabin roof. It appears to be affixed to the top of the mast solidly. No winch, no mate, no way I'm drinking when I attempt this. If a bosun's chair looks like a wooden kids' swing then I have one of those too.

The six pack is for payment of the deckie after the fact. I think the halyard you have, has slipped up the mast. I guess the rope end has a knot in it, and that is hard up against the sheave at the top of the mast. It needs to be retrieved. It's looking more and more like the easiest option is to drop the mast. If it is deck stepped that job can be done with a couple of extra hands (easier if the boat is tied to a dock), If it is keel stepped, then there is a bigger problem, in that you will need an independent derrick/crane.

OR....find a willing mast climber to shinny up the stick and feed the halyards back through the sheaves and down to the deck.

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"if at first you don't succeed....Redefine success"!